| Suisun Valley AVA (wine region) | |
|---|---|
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
| Year established | 1982[1] |
| Country | USA |
| Part of | California, North Coast AVA |
| Climate region | III |
| Total area | 15,000 acres (61 km2) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 3,000 acres (12 km2) |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Gris, Primitivo, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Valdiguie, Verdelho, Viognier, Zinfandel[2] |
The Suisun Valley AVA, is an American Viticultural Area in Solano County, California, at the southern end of the Coast Range bordering the Napa Valley region. It was established as a wine appellation of origin on December 27, 1982.
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Suisun Valley lies within the southern end of the Coast Range, between the Vaca Mountains and the Mt. George Range to the west, and ends at Suisun Bay to the south while to the north it starts at the Napa County line. It is approximately 3 miles (5 km) by 8 miles (13 km). It contains about 15,000 acres (61 km2) of which approximately 2,200 acres (9 km2) are planted with grapes.
Suisun Valley lies within Coastal area climates characterized by cool moist winds blowing inland from the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay, and San Pablo Bay almost continuously from May through early fall. Spring frosts often mitigated by proximity to Suisun Bay. Suisun Valley has a mid-region III climate as classified by the University of California, Davis system of heat summarization by degree days. The region averages roughly 3,350 degree days per year. The mid valley averages 3,250 to 3,450 degree days per year, while the upper valley averages 3,700 to 3,750 degree days per year.
Suisun Valley consists of a mixture of soils which aid it in the production of wine grapes. Soil types include Brentwood clay loam, San Ysidro sandy loam, Sycamore silty loam, and Rincon clay loam. Suisun Valley's primary source of water is the Putah South Canal, which draws from Lake Berryessa and is operated by Solano Irrigation District.